The Way We Are To Live

To be cheerful is possible, but to be cheerful “no matter what” is a different thing. Some might say, “It’s easy for you to say be cheerful no matter what because you are not in my shoes.” Paul, who wrote Thessalonians, has been through a lot of hard times for the sake of the gospel. He experienced shipwreck, snake bite, persecution, multiple imprisonment, and other difficulties. So Paul is not kidding or being sarcastic when he said “Be cheerful no matter what.” He also followed it with instructions of praying all the time and thanking God no matter what happens.

With all the Paul went through, he recognizes that our pain is not meaningless. It has a purpose. Our hope in God strengthens us to endure whatever adversity we will face. To be cheerful, to be prayerful, and to be grateful to God are all choices to make. This is the way God wants us who belong to Christ Jesus to live. As we look on Christ’s work on the cross, we can always be encouraged to live patiently in the present and to live in love with full of hope.

What choice will you make today?